Heritage
Charborough (in Latin, Cereberie) was recorded in the Doomsday Book in 1087 as having been held by King Harold before 1066. Initially granted to various Norman knights, the families involved over the next four hundred years included de Paunton (by 1299), de Ivelton (by 1372), Morvyll (by 1397), Camel (by 1420) and the Wykes (c.1450). Mary Wykes married Walter Erle in 1549 and the current owners are directly descended from them.
The Erles fought for Parliament in the Civil War. Sir Walter Erle laid siege to Corfe Castle, which was defended for six months by Lady Bankes of Kingston Lacy, and in retaliation had his house burned down by the Royalists, only the cellars and foundations remained.
The present house was built partly on the foundations of the old Tudor house and dates back to the Commonwealth period (1649-1660). Some stone and timber (including a large beam) were brought from Corfe Castle for the rebuilding; after the restoration, Sir Ralph Bankes wrote demanding the return of the oak beam. Following some acrimonious correspondence, an amount of compensation is thought to have been paid and the timber remained at Charborough. The new house was certainly built in the style of Inigo Jones (1573-1652) and possibly designed by him.
In 1686 General Erle and others conspired at Charborough to rid the country of James II during the ‘Glorious Revolution’ which ended with William and Mary of Orange being crowned in 1688. Various additions have been made to Charborough House over the ensuing years, particularly by Richard Erle Drax Grosvenor (d.1819) who added the east wing and JSW Sawbridge Drax (d.1887) who covered the house with white stucco, painted it white and added the Georgian façade on the North front.
Charborough Tower was built in 1790 by Edward Drax (d.1791). Struck by lightening on 29th November 1838, it was rebuilt by JSW Sawbridge Drax who increased it by 40ft to a height in excess of 100ft. There are 161 steps to the top of the tower, which is 420ft above sea level.
